After a season sidelined by Tommy John surgery, this pitcher is ready for the next step in his recovery.
Pablo López has spent nearly every day of the 2026 season alongside the Minnesota Twins, even though he hasn't been able to contribute a single inning on the mound. With two days remaining in the season, the right-hander is finally preparing to leave the clubhouse, and he's doing it for a reason that says plenty about where his recovery stands.
López plans to begin the drive back to Miami on Saturday, accompanied by his dog and brother-in-law. The nearly 25-hour trip isn't something he wants to make, but waiting until the season ends Sunday could mean missing a throwing session that has already been scheduled for Monday.
After undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in February, López isn't willing to give up any time.
"With the rehab being so thorough, so specific, you have to be on track with everything," López told reporters, according to MLB.com's Matthew Leach. "So that's why I'm leaving this weekend."
The urgency is understandable. López has already spent seven months working his way back from a torn ulnar collateral ligament, and he's reaching the stage of rehabilitation where each throwing session brings him closer to the pitcher he expects to be in 2027.
He began playing catch in late August, with his first sessions taking place from roughly 30 to 45 feet. Now, the goal is to keep increasing the volume and distance of his throws before progressing to mound work around the end of November. If everything stays on schedule, López hopes to finish his rehabilitation around the end of February or beginning of March, putting him in position to prepare for the 2027 season.
For López, the appeal of the next few months is that he'll finally have baseballs coming out of his hand again.
"It's going to be fun to continue to see the progress," he said. "Because every time I throw it's a new milestone."
There is also a potential complication looming over his offseason. As the Twins' player representative for the MLB Players' Association, López is aware that a lockout could restrict communication between players and team personnel. He's already working with his Miami-based trainer, Richard Jackson, and the Twins' medical staff to make sure his throwing program is established well in advance.
López said Jackson has also worked with Dr. Keith Meister's throwing progression, leaving him confident that the plan can continue even if communication with Minnesota becomes difficult.
The physical progress is only part of what López takes away from a season spent away from the mound. He remained with the Twins throughout the year, traveling with the team and filling other roles, including broadcasting and serving as an interpreter.
He believes that routine helped him mentally, giving him a reason to stay connected to the club while working toward his return.
"I can say that I blinked and the season went by now," López said.
For a pitcher who hasn't thrown in a major-league game all year, getting back to Miami early may be the most important move he makes before the offseason truly begins.
